Heads up, Santa Maria residents — you may notice louder skies between February 16 and 20. The Royal Air Force (RAF) will be conducting training exercises over the Pacific, with Typhoon jets operating out of Santa Maria Airport (SMX) twice daily — around 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
These temporary operations are part of scheduled international defense training and have been coordinated with aviation authorities. The RAF and Santa Maria Airport are working to minimize noise impacts as much as possible.
What to expect:
- Short periods of higher jet activity
- Increased aircraft noise near the airport and coastal areas
- Morning and evening flights (approx. 10 a.m. & 10 p.m.)
We appreciate our community’s patience and understanding during this training period.